All Three High Schools VICTORIOUS

Cardinals, Tigers and Wolves win their opening weekend.

LINCOLN —A pulverizing defense stymied the Westville offense and Lincoln got their offense rolling in the second-half to take a convincing 37-0 season-opening victory over Westville, Okla.

The win Friday is Lincoln’s second consecutive in the border war, marking a turning in a series Westville has dominated.

“Our guys were ball- hawking tonight,” Lincoln coach Brad Harris said, adding, “What can you say about starting the year off with a shutout?”

“We had a heckuva game,” Lincoln linebacker Kyle Hamby said, “Shutting them out to zero points, it takes a lot of people to do that.”

On Westville’s opening series, Dalton Simmons picked off a pass and returned it near the original line of scrimmage at the Yellowjacket 38. Tyler Cummings ran for 20 yards on his first carry, but Lincoln turned the ball over on downs at the 10. On the next play a snap from shotgun sailed over the Yellowjacket quarterback’s head and he was covered in the end zone by Colton Barnum to record a safety and 2-0 Lincoln lead.

Lincoln looked like they were ready to explode and break the game open and the defense contin- ued to take the ball away. Johnny Yang intercepted a Westville pass at the 4:12 mark of the opening frame and a penalty moved the ball to the Yellowjacket 7. On fourth-and-goal from the 1, Nou Long Thao overpowered the single defender who got a hand on him and scored. Manuel Ortiz kicked the point-after and Lincoln led, 9-0.

Lincoln came away with two more interceptions, the second of which by Patrick Haynes, led to another touchdown. Thao broke away from the Westville 23 but tripped up and fell just short of the goal line. Simmons carried it in for the score and Ortiz again booted the point-after.

Cummings left the game in the first quarter and did not return. Harris said he didn’t know a whole lot about the status of Cummings, who was expected to get a medical evaluation Saturday.

“We just kept him out as a precautionary measure,” Harris said. “We were up 16-0 [at halftime] and I was comfortable with the way our defense was playing. We were able to lean on other guys.”

A major shift in momentum occurred early in the third period. Westville surprised the Wolves by recovering an onside kick to start the stanza and drove to the Lincoln 10-yard line. Simmons then shut the

door with another pick in the end zone.

Lincoln mounted an 80yard drive following the touchback, capped off by Simmons, who ran through three tacklers to score standing up from the 11. Ortiz added the kick and Lincoln enjoyed a 23- 0 advantage with 7:54 to go in the third.

Sophomore Drew Harris earned his first victory as starting quarterback, although he struggled at times in the first two quarters.

“He was so nervous in the first half, he settled in the second half,” Harris said. “I think we all came out a little nervous.”

In the second period, Drew Harris demonstrated his ability to throw long with a 56-yard completion to Alec Pitts, who made a terrific catch in the right corner of the end zone, but the score was erased by an ineligible receiver downfield.

In the third quarter, Drew Harris had a touchdown pass that counted on a screen play to Thao, who was escorted by a convoy of blockers on a 44- yard scamper. Drews Harris also scored Lincoln’s final touchdown with a determined effort, after dropping the shotgun snap, and making a quick move behind left tackle. Ortiz was good on both kicks and Lincoln won 37-0.

“We knew we’d be able to run the football well. I’m real pleased with the effort,” Harris said.

Harris praised the tough running of Simmons, Thao and Hamby, saying “We’d sneak Drew in there every once in awhile.”

Harris wasn’t sure if former Lincoln quarterback Cheyenne Vaughn would play for Stilwell, Okla., against the Wolves on Friday. Harris said the Lincoln staff watched a Stilwell scrimmage two weeks ago and was anticipating a trade of game films with the Indians this week.

“They are a solid football team, not one of those that’s just a gimme,” Harris said. “We don’t have any of those on the schedule this year.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p. m. Friday at Stilwell, Okla.

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Tyler Cummings carries the football against Westville, Okla., on Friday. Cummings had four rushes for 28 yards before leaving the game. Lincoln won, 37-0, in the season opener for both teams.